Amethyst crystal is a variety of quartz, well known through the ages as a healing stone. It comes in the most beautiful shades of purple with colour ranging from a soft, pinkish lavender to the darkest and richest of violets and purple, reminiscent of plump ripe heady grapes and sparkling burgundy wine. If you look carefully some amethyst can also contain surprise flashes of red and blue.

Some of the earliest discoveries of amethyst were excavated from the ancient Egyptian tomb of King Djer, who reigned in the 1st Dynasty, approximately 3000 B.C.E. The ancient Egyptians knew amethyst as Hemag and used it to guard against guilty and fearful feelings. Egyptian soldiers wore amethyst in battle in order to retain their courage.

The modern name comes from the Greek "amethóstos", which means, "not to be drunk". In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, was pursuing a maiden named Amethystos, who refused his affections. Amethystos prayed to the gods to remain chaste, a prayer which the goddess Artemis answered, transforming her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethystos's desire to remain chaste, Dionysus poured wine over the stone as an offering. This wine dyed the crystal purple.

The wealthy ancient Greeks and Romans drank from goblets of amethyst, as they believed it guarded against drunkenness. They thought they could drink as much as they liked without suffering from any ill effects! Such goblets gave them added protection against potential assassins, as amethyst was thought to lose its brightness in the presence of poison.

Known as the "Stone of Spirit" or the "Stone of Integrity," Amethyst has long been associated with purity and piety. It is the stone of the Buddha and in Tibet it is popularly used in the making of prayer beads used in the practice of meditation. In Christian traditions Amethyst is also known as the Bishop's Stone and is still part of the official garb worn by Catholic Bishops.

Purple has long been considered a royal color, so it is no surprise that amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels. They were a favorite stone of Catherine the Great. Beads of amethyst have also been found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England.

In modern times, amethyst is associated with the astrological sign of Aquarius and with the planet Jupiter. Its element is air, and it is considered to be the stone of faithful lovers.

Amethyst is a Quartz crystal, composed of silicon dioxide with traces of ferric iron. The colouring is due to the presence of colour centres that are created where silicon ions in the crystal lattice of the quartz have been substituted by ions of iron.

The crystal is formed in silica-rich liquids deposited in gas cavities (geodes) in lava. It occurs in crystalline masses. When conditions permit, it forms hexagonal crystals that are usually grown from a base. These crystals are most often not well developed, and so are generally found as clusters of crystal points. Although most commonly found in geodes, Amethyst is sometimes found as a stalactite.

Amethyst is considered to be a master healing stone. Extremely calming, yet deep, this most dynamic and persuasive crystal can bring a wonderful sense of serenity and peace. It clears intoxication in the sense that it soothes and clears the mind, allowing one to move out of the heavy and denser "intoxicating" earthbound realm into the higher frequencies of Spirit.

Why not try it out? After a stress-filled day or when you are feeling muddled or low energy, experiment by taking an amethyst in your receptive hand. This is your left hand if you are right handed or your right if you are left handed. Breathe deeply and allow the peaceful vibrations of the stone to soothe you.

Amethyst is said to aid in the development of pyschic awareness and is often used during meditation to help open and activate the crown chakra. Some people also recommend sleeping with amethyst under your pillow to aid restful sleep and pleasant dreams.

You can see some of the Crystal Castle’s range of Amethyst in our online shop. We have geodes, clusters, beautiful polished balls, hearts and generators as well as a fabulous range of divine amethyst jewellery. Check them out at http://shop.crystalcastle.com.au/